myHR Archives
myHR: September 30, 2020
Fighting the Flu Together
The fall season is here and that means it’s time to get your flu shot. Getting a flu vaccination this year is more important than ever as the world continues to deal with COVID-19. By getting a flu shot you can protect yourself, your family, and your community against influenza while preserving health care resources needed to continue fighting the pandemic.
Student Health Service (SHS) will offer on-campus flu vaccine clinics in Houston Hall, Bodek Lounge from Monday, October 12 through Friday, October 16. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. The walk-in clinics are free to faculty and staff. You do not need to register in advance, but you will need to bring your PennCard and be ready to show a “cleared” PennOpen Pass result on the day of your visit.
Clinics sponsored by Human Resources will not be held this year, but you do have other options for getting a flu shot besides through SHS, especially if you continue to work remotely.
Using your medical insurance card, faculty and staff can get a flu vaccine at in-network locations such as a physician’s office, Urgent Care center, or pharmacy. In accordance with the Affordable Care Act, flu vaccines are considered preventive services, so if you go to an in-network provider you will not have a copay through your medical insurance plan. If you have health insurance outside of Penn, please check with your provider for available flu vaccine options.
Effective October 1, 2020, faculty and staff who are enrolled in one of Penn’s health plans can also get a flu shot at their local CVS pharmacy with no copay using their CVS Caremark card.
Benefits-eligible faculty and staff can earn Bonus Action points for the 2020-2021 Be in the Know campaign when they receive a flu vaccine. You will need to submit an Attestation Form on the Virgin Pulse platform to receive credit.
For more information about the upcoming flu season and what to expect during COVID-19, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.
4 Retirement Security Seminars
According to Investopia.com, the post-career phase of your life could last more than 25 years. Chances are, you will be fortunate enough to spend as much time in retirement as you did in primary and secondary school. To make those years as comfortable as possible, it’s important to take time now to focus on your financial future. Take this opportunity to attend these Retirement Security Week information sessions led by Penn’s retirement plan providers, Vanguard and TIAA.
For safety and convenience, Penn’s 2020 Retirement Security Week seminars will be held online on October 20 and October 21. These information sessions cover retirement-related financial literacy topics for faculty and staff in various stages of their careers.
Register online for the sessions that fit your goals at Retirement Security Week webpage.
October 20 TIAA
11 am – 12 pm Gaining Insight: Navigating Debt and Understanding the Mortgage Process
Taking control of your financial future starts with knowledge and insight. Learn how to take control of debt before it becomes an obstacle on your way to retirement.
1:30 pm – 2:20 pm Halfway There: A Retirement Checkup
Don’t let retirement sneak up on you. It’s never too late (or too early) to start saving for your future. TIAA’s workshop leader will discuss how planning ahead can give your savings an opportunity to grow.
October 21 Vanguard (Registration for these Vanguard events will open on October 8.)
11 am – 12 pm Create Your Plan
Learn about savings sufficiency, investment allocation, financial wellness, and sandwich generation considerations.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Investment Principles
Learn about identifying your goals, owning a balanced portfolio of investments, keeping costs low, and staying disciplined.
Earn Be in the Know Bonus Action Points for Financial Welllness
These presentations are each eligible for 10 Bonus Action points for Financial Wellness Events. You can get points for a maximum of 4 events (or 40 Bonus Action points) for this Be in the Know campaign year.
Tips for Long-distance Skill Sharing
E-learning has gone from a telecommunications marvel to a convenience to a necessity. These days, virtual training may be your only option for sharing skills with coworkers. It’s easy to share a slide deck or send an instructional video link, but without your active involvement, that training information isn’t likely to stick. If you can’t interact with your students, it’s almost impossible to tell if the participants understand deeper concepts and detailed instructions well enough to apply them on the job. Making your distance training truly live and interactive has the added benefit of connecting you to your colleagues and demonstrating how much you value their engagement.
To help you develop your next training session or translate an in-person training program into an online class, sign up for Virtual Training 101 on October 21 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. This practical, free class gives you a basic framework for building an effective training event of your own. Talent Development Coordinator Jamie Apgar will present participants with step-by-step method for planning a successful virtual course. “Virtual training allows us to engage with other participants on the call to share experiences, ask questions, and interact with others,” says Apgar. Virtual Training 101 provides a real-time model for participants to apply to a variety of teaching needs.
As a Virtual Training 101 preview, here are a few general tips to improve your next online training call.
Check Your Tech
Contact your school or center’s IT service provider to see what virtual meeting platforms are available to you, such as BlueJeans, conference calling, Teams, or Zoom services. If you’re training for policy or legal compliance, you might need to use a specific learning management system (LMS), such as KnowledgeLink.
Don’t take sound for granted. “You always want to ensure that you have microphone capabilities for your virtual training or meeting,” says Apgar. An external microphone usually provides clearer sound, and it may be necessary if your computer doesn’t have a built-in mic.
Don’t Just Show Up
You can always tell when your online instructor is winging-it. Sometimes it works, but often, if a trainer is just logging in a few minutes before the call starts, the students aren’t going to have a quality learning experience. Budget plenty of time for setting up before participants join you online.
Apgar recommends that facilitators and presenters spend at least 50% of their efforts on preparation, 25% on execution (including pre-class set-up and the actual presentation time), and 25% on post class follow-ups.
Set Guidelines for Your Session Attendees
Establishing ground rules at the start of your class to put participants at ease and helps the session flow smoothly. Consider the material you need to cover, the platform you’re using, and your audience. Do you want to them to ask questions or use the chat functions at any time, or only during certain portions of your class?
Follow up with Participants Post Class
Keep your students connected and reward them for applying their skills after they leave class. Consider how you want to share course materials and other take-aways with them. You may also need to document their participation and provide proof of their credentials.
To learn more, register for Virtual Training 101.
Healthy Meals: Oatmeal Energy Bites
Here’s a no-bake favorite from the Penn Netter Center’s Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative. These nutty, chewy bites are packed with fiber and nutrients to keep you energized throughout the day.
Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.
Did You Know: Annenberg Center's Live Digital Season
This fall, the Annenberg Center presents exclusive music and dance performances broadcast from the stage. Streamed live online, each performance will feature an interactive Q&A with the performers. Penn staff and faculty save 20% on performance livestreams as well as on the newly launched independent film series. Use code PENN to save today.